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Supporting language programs in these difficult times

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Minyahgu to all of you in our network who are trying to continue with such important work while facing the necessary restrictions around contact and travel.

We would like to invite you to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you feel that we can be of any help at all, but in particular we can offer support in the following ways:

Language classes at a distance

Notes from language programs video conference held Friday, April 2020.

First Languages Australia and the Pertame Language Project invited people to participate in a video conference to connect, hear and learn from each other about creative ways we can continue our language teaching through digital platforms. COVID-19 presents a huge threat to our old people, who often are the sole holders of our precious language knowledge. Keeping our old people safe is the number one priority. How can we also make the most of this extra time many of us have to learn and teach our languages?

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Project Officer – Education & Training Project

Part Time Flexible Arrangement
Salary Sacrifice options
Not-for-profit working with Aboriginal Language Centres

Exciting project-based role, approximately 6 months length, 2 days per week, with the possibility of extension dependant on funding. Support the career development and training of Indigenous language workers.

Career Development and Language Teaching Project

First Languages Australia has been funded for a national project to support the career development of Indigenous language workers and to research resources and tools for the teaching of Indigenous languages.

This will allow us to expand on the work that went into the publication of Nintiringanyi: National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Teaching and Employment Strategy.

A project outline can be downloaded here.

As we begin the next round of discussions we would like to hear from you about which parts of the project are most relevant to your region. We would also appreciate your advice as to who would be key individuals to contact within your state or territory.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you would like to be involved in the discussions, or for further details.

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, International Speaker Series

Since June we have been working with DFAT to support language advocates and artists to visit a range of Australian consulates around the world. Here are some of the stories from this shared project…

Two-way Linguistics: Working together for Indigenous Languages

First Languages Australia Committee Member and Central Queensland language worker, Melinda Holden, joined interpreter and early childhood teacher Josie Lardy, linguist Ilana Mushin, and linguist Felicity Meakins and musician Eleanor Dixon from the Mudburra Language Project, at the Australian Society of Linguistics Conference for a panel conversation about best practice in the ways academic linguists and community-based language workers and linguists are working together.

Young Champions profiled in ABC Life

Bawunge Vincent McKenzie - Bardi

Gala nimoonggoon inda gorna biinmal galaloong

Striving for success in all we do, strong culture.

Language lessons at Woordford Folk Festival

To celebrate the International Year of Indigenous Languages First Languages Australia has been invited to host a selection of speakers, local language lessons and panel discussions at the Woodford Folk Festival.

If you are one of the 130,000 plus people planning to attend, look out for us there.

Young Language Champions Professional Development

Living Languages and First Languages Australia (FLA), are excited to be offering another Professional Development (PD) Workshop in 2020. The five-day workshop is open to 10-12 young language workers/teachers.

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2019 Professional Development attendees and trainers.

The launch of Jarrak: Our languages journey

First Languages Australia’s major celebration in the International Year of Indigenous Languages has been the launch of Jarrak: Our Languages Journey, a collection of materials that tell the story of advocacy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages over the past fifty years.

www.jarrak.com.au

ABC Elevate Reconciliation Action Plan

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We are very pleased to have been a partner in the work that has seen the ABC launch its first ELEVATE Reconciliation Action Plan. Continuing to embed our languages across the network is the key feature of the RAP. As ABC Managing Director David Anderson and Chair of the board Ita Buttrose state "The Elevate RAP aims to embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages, voices and names within our vocabulary and style so that they may, in turn, become an everyday part of the vocabulary and voices of the nation".

SBS National Languages Competition

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We were pleased to partner with SBS in the fourth SBS National Languages Competition, which aims to inspire all Australians to embrace language learning and retention. The competition asked language students to answer the question: "How does learning a language make a world of difference to you?". Forty-four Aboriginal language learners entered, doubling last years’ count. We look forward to seeing that number double again in 2020.

Indigenous Language Song Competition awards six schools

ABC Education and First Languages Australia have selected a record six winners for the 2019 Indigenous Language Song Competition.

In this the International Year of Indigenous Languages, the competition entries were very strong with the judges deciding to award all contributors as well as highlighting six exceptional entries.

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Bold Park Community School students performing Marrin Gamu in Noongar.

Ngarrangarra gum midling: Language centres meeting

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Our committee and staff used the opportunity of having many language program teams together in Darwin for Puliima, to host Ngarrangarra gum midling–a meeting of language centre and program managers. The day comprised of a series of short, facilitated panel discussions and workshops on the topics:
* Pay rates and awards for language workers
* Working with local government
* Language work contracts and intellectual property
* Languages and science
* Our place names

Each panel included representatives of language centres and programs along with partner organisations. It was a productive gathering and an excellent opportunity for language centres to speak directly with some of our national partners.

Discussion motes are available here.

The meeting title ‘Ngarrangarra gum midling’ means ‘We talk together’ in Larrakia.

Ngarrangarra is pronounced ‘ngah-rran-gah-rrah’–the ng is one sound with tongue behind top teeth and the rr with an extended roll. Gum pronounced as in Australian English and midling as ‘meed-ling’. Provided by Bilawara Lee.

What is involved? Collaborating with Aboriginal communities to offer a language curriculum

Michael Jarrett, Gumbaynggirr teacher and Chairperson of Muurrbay Aboriginal Language and Culture Cooperative, and Carolyn Barker, of First Languages Australia, gave the opening keynote address "What is involved? Collaborating with Aboriginal communities to offer a language curriculum" at the NSW Association of Independent Schools, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Conference 2019.

Living Language: Country, Culture, Community

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The team at the NSW Library have produced an exceptional exhibition celebrating the resilience of Aboriginal languages and language workers across NSW. The show combines original documents and interviews with language custodians on country. It has been guided by these custodians, whose knowledge and experience continue to enhance and challenge the Libraries understanding of Aboriginal language materials in its collection.

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